Vehicle window installation

ABSTRACT

A frame (9) guiding the rear marginal portion of a first window pane (13) received in a door (7) is widened to overlap the exterior of a second pane (17) which abuts the first pane (13) guided in the frame (9). The second pane may comprise a pane (17) received in a second door (15), or it may comprise a fixedly mounted pane.

The invention relates to an automotive vehicle having at least two sidewindows, at least one of the panes being arranged in a door and whereinthe door comprises a frame which receives the pane together with itsrear marginal portion for longitudinal movement along a substantiallyvertical guide track.

In known arrangements a substantially vertical gap is present within thearea of the window, between the window frame and an adjacent structuralmember which also supports a pane. Four door vehicles comprising acenter body pillar which forms part of the exterior shell of the vehicleeven have two gaps. These gaps require very precise positioning of thestructural members relative to each other, and often they are the causeof noise at higher speeds. Known solutions by and large provide for widestructures thus impeding visibility in this area.

The invention is based upon the task of avoiding the formation of gapswithin the window area, with simple means.

The task is accomplished by the characterizing features of claim 1.

By structuring the frame which supports the first pane in such a mannerthat it extends to the second pane and overlaps an outer portionthereof, the formation of open gaps is avoided. In this manner the oftenannoying hissing and whistling noises generated at higher speeds areprevents by eliminating their cause, rather than by attempting toimprove the noise by additional means (e.g. gaskets). By covering allvertical glass edges time-consuming adjustments in tolerances becomeunnecessary.

The invention may advantageously be employed in the area of a window atthe transition between the front door and a rear side door, at thetransition between a rear side door and an adjacent rigidly mountedthird side window, or in the case of two-door vehicles, at thetransition between the driver's door, or passenger's door, and a fixedor movable second side window.

The invention may be employed for windows in many different frames, eventhough certain embodiments--as pointed out in the subclaims--arepreferred. Thus it is possible to utilize conventional frames, i.e.U-shaped profiles, as well as frames arranged on the rear surface of thepanes in which the panes are guided by means of slide members.Combinations of both kinds of frames are equally useful, as is the useof a frame guiding the pane at its rear edge outside of the body of theframe. Such a window guide, in which the invention may be utilized withparticular advantage has been shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,703,053.

Advantageously the frame covers an outer portion of a body pillararranged between the windows, thus providing for an enlarged windowsurface as well as a good seal.

It is particularly advanateous to provide the frame at it inner surfacewith a covering which affects a marginal portion of the second windowwhen the door is closed. This would provide for a guide for the secondpane, in case it is recessable. More particularly, the covering wouldprevent lifting off of the pane at high speeds and dampens vibrations ofthe pane. In case the second window is fixed, such covering mayessentially serve as a seal.

In vehicles comprising two doors at each side, and a body pillar betweenthem, it is especially advantageous to guide the second pane mounted inthe rear door at its rear edge only and to arrange the forward edgebetween gasket members at the frame between the forward door and thebody pillar. The two gaskets provide for a true guide for the secondpane without requiring a separate frame or a guide rail.

Claim 5 characterized an advantageous embodiment of the frame relativeto the guiding of the first pane.

An embodiment of the invention has been depicted in the drawing and willhereafter be described more fully.

FIG. 1 schematically depicts a forward and a rear door of a passengercar,

FIG. 2 depicts the doors of FIG. 1 as mounted into a vehicle, and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view along line III--III of FIG. 2.

A passenger car forward door 5 as shown in FIG. 1 comprises a door bodyportion 7 with a substantially vertical frame 9 and a triangular bracket11 for mounting a mirror protruding therefrom. A movable or recessablewindow pane 13 is, outside of body 7, guided only by the frame 9 and bythe bracket 11. The regulator mechanism for raising and lowering thewindow out of and into the door, between inner and outer panels thereof,as well as guide means for guiding the window within the door, have notbeen shown as they are entirely conventional and form no part of theinstant invention.

A rear door 15 is of similar construction as regards the mounting of itswindow pane 17, that is to say the window pane outside of the bodyportion 19 of the door is guided only in a frame 21.

FIG. 2 depicts the doors 5 and 15 as mounted into a passenger car. Thedoors are monted on hinges (not shown) and are provided with locks (alsonot shown) in a well-known manner which is believed not to requirefurther elucidation. As may be seen from the figure, a triangular pane23 substantially abuts the pane 17 of the rear door 15, within thewindow section, i.e. above the so-called belt line of the vehicle.Unlike the panes 13 and 17 the pane 23 cannot be raised or lowered andis afixed to the body by adhesion.

The frame 9 of the forward door 5 shown in cross-section in FIG. 3 ismade of sheet metal and comprises a U-shaped section 23 which isprovided with a gasket 25 for receiving the window pane 13. The gasket25 in connection with the U-shaped section 23 is formed in such a mannerthat the window pane 13 extends as flush as possible relative to theouter surface 27 of the frame 9.

When the door 7 is in its closed position a surface 29 of the frame 9engages a gasket 31 fitted to a center pillar 33 of the chassis of thevehicle. Toward the outside the center pillar 33 is substantiallycovered by the frame 9. On its side opposite the gasket 31 the centerpillar 33 is provided with a further gasket 35 which is engaged by theinterior surface of the window pane 17 when the door 19 is in its closedposition. A marginal portion of the exterior surface of the window pane17, is supported by the frame 9 provided with a lining 37. The gasket 35and the lining 37 form a guide for the rear window pane 17 when theforward door 7 is in its closed position. As will be appreciated bythose skilled in the art, the gaskets 25, 31, and 35 as well as thelining 37 are preferably of resilient material of the kind well known inthis art, such as rubber, felt, or the like.

I claim:
 1. A window arrangement for use in an automotive vehicle,comprising:a first window pane comprising inner and outer surfacesmounted for substantially vertical movement in a door of said vehicle; asecond window pane comprising inner and outer surfaces mounted in sideby side relationship with said first window pane; pillar means mountedin said vehicle and extending vertically adjacent said inner surfaces ofsaid first and second window panes intermediate thereof; and frame meansmounted on said door in substantially overlying relationship relative tosaid pillar means and comprising substantially vertically extendingfirst and second marginal portions, one of said vertically extendingportions comprising rail means for slideably receiving a verticalmarginal section of said first window pane, the other of said verticallyextending portions comprising means for extending over and engaging avertical marginal section of the outer surface of said second windowpane.
 2. The window arrangement in accordance with claim 1,characterized by the fact that the other of said vertically extendingportions of said frame means at its surface extending over said verticalmarginal section of said outer surface of said second window pane isprovided with a covering which engages said marginal outer surface areaof said second window pane in the closed position of said door.
 3. Thewindow arrangement of claim 2 for use in an automotive vehiclecomprising at each side two doors and pillar means arranged intermediatethereof, characterized by the fact that said second window pane ismounted in the rear one of said two doors and is guided outside of saidrear door only along its rear margin and that its forward margin isreceived between gaskets respectively provided on said frame means ofthe forward one of said two doors and said pillar means.
 4. The windowarrangement in accordance with claim 3, characterized by the fact thatsaid one of said vertically extending portions of said frame meanscomprises a U-shaped portion for guiding said marginal section of saidfirst window pane.
 5. An apparatus for mounting a plurality of windowpanes in side by side relationship, comprising:a first window panecomprising at least one substantially vertical straight marginal portionand mounted for substantially vertical movement, a second window panemounted adjacent said straight marginal portion, and frame meansextending between said straight marginal portion and said second windowpane, said frame means comprising a channel member for slideablyengaging said straight marginal portion and a flat portion foroverlapping and engaging a first marginal surface area of said secondwindow pane.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said first pane ismounted in a door and said frame means is fixedly mounted on said door.7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said channel member is ofsubstantially U-shaped cross-section.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7,wherein said channel member is lined with gasket means.
 9. The apparatusof claim 8, wherein said flat portion is provided with a lining.
 10. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein an elongated pillar means is providedintermediate said first and second panes in substantially parallelrelationship with said straight marginal portion and wherein saidextending means extends transversally of said pillar means.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein said pillar means comprises gasket meansand wherein said extending means comprises a portion for engaging saidgasket means.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein said pillar meanscomprises a further gasket for engaging said second pane at a marginalarea opposite said first marginal area.
 13. The apparatus of claim 12,wherein said first and second panes are substantially coplanarlymounted.